Politics
Edo Pitches EFFC Against Obaseki, PDP Leaders In N96bn LG Fraud
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will prosecute the former governor Godwin Obaseki and some of the recently impeached Edo State Local Government chairmen.
He made the declaration over the weekend, explaining that they were indicted for looting the Local Government treasuries, running into over N95 billions.
Gov Okpebholo made the remarks when he received the report of the Administrative Panel of Enquiry set up on the 18th of December, 2024 to investigate the financial dealings of the impeached 18 Local Government Chairmen in Edo State from 4th September, 2023 to November, 2024.
He disclosed that besides the impeached Local Government Chairmen who were indicted by the report, former governor Godwin Obaseki, leaders of the factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among others, were also fingered.
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Expressing satisfaction with the committee for the professionalism with which it carried out its duty, Gov Okpebholo said, the days of financial recklessness and lack of transparency in public office were long over, as “Nigerians need to start demanding accountability from elected public office holders”, stressing that “it was the only way to fight corruption and ensure development.”
He expressed dismay at the findings of the report that implicated the impeached 18 Local Government Chairmen, vowed to petition the EFCC on the findings of the report for immediate prosecution.
Gov Okpebholo said, “I want to thank you for a job well done. I carefully listened to the submission of the report. The truth is that the administration of former governor Godwin Obaseki took Edo people for granted. They took everything belonging to Edo people and channeled it for their personnel gains.
“We thank God for helping us to change the narrative to benefit Edo people. We also thank the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because without his support, we will not be witnessing the kind of development we are experiencing in Edo today.
“A lot has happened. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) looted the treasury of the Local Governments and stole our collective partrimony, and nobody went after them or took action. This time, things are different. We will go after them and retrieve what they have stolen from Edo people.
“They will be made to pay for it. I will personally take this document to the EFCC and ensure that justice is done for this wrong done to Edo people.”
Earlier, Chairman of the panel, Barr. Solomon Imohiosen, noted that findings and forensic investigations uncovered that huge sums amounting to N96 billion was either mismanaged and/or diverted to private accounts.
The panel observed that over N95 billion (N95,080,676,687.86) was received from the Joint Allocation Account Committee (JAAC) by the 18 Local Government Area Chairmen for the period investigated.
It, however, reported that the funds were not judiciously utilized as no meaningful projects were on the ground to justify the amount received.
Confirming fraudulent diversion of Local Government funds to political godfathers in the State, the panel reported that over N10 (10,433 658,452.00) was fraudulently siphoned, using the pseudo name, “Security, Environment and Training”, saying that the 18 Local Government Area Chairmen contributed to the account, using it as a conduit pipe to drain government resources, as money were transferred from there to various individuals and companies.
The panel, he added, faced different challenges during the course of the assignment, which included late submission of financial records by various Local Government Councils, incomplete submission of records, deliberate obstruction of the investigation by Council personnel who failed to comply on time, but brought hefty sacks as an after-thought to dazzle panel members.
“The panel’s investigation uncovered significant irregularities in the financial activities of the 18 Local Governments Councils. The recommendations outlined in the report aim to address these issues and promote transparency and accountability in the Local Governments finances.”
He pointed out that the report indicted former ALGON chairman, Oghomwen Newman Ugiagbe, who used his hotel, Demarriots Hotels Limited, Ahonsi Ogiegbaen Osifo, Eric Agbonmwanre, Abraham Burma and Dickson Imasogie Notiemwenmwan to loot Local Government funds.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has expressed solidarity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the state of emergency declared in Rivers State.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Fred Itua, vented this in a statement in Benin City on Thursday night, asserting that his principal was not consulted by his colleagues in the South-South Governors’ Forum before going public with their view.
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Itua wrote, “The position by the Governors of the South-South, opposing the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, did not get the nod of Governor Okpebholo. Governor Okpebholo was neither consulted nor informed.
“While Governor Monday Okpebholo acknowledges the right of other Governors in the South-South geopolitical zone to take a position, he, however dissociates himself from any statement that opposes the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, understands the issues at stake.
“Governor Okpebholo supports actions so far taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that will bring lasting solutions and peace to Rivers State and the South-South geopolitical zone.”
In what political watchers note as a clear demonstration of bowing to political maneuvering and arm-twisting, 17 Local Government Chairmen, elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State have decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
This, according a statement in Benin City from the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Fred Itua, has bolstered the confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would sweep the votes come 2027.
He cited his boss, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo as having predicted that President Tinubu will win the 2027 presidential election with a landslide.
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According to Itua, the Governor disclosed this at the New Festival Hall of Government House, Benin City, while addressing chairmen of the 17 local government councils who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Okpebholo who praised the leadership style of President Tinubu said steps that previous administration were afraid to take that would have put the nation on sound footing for development and growth is what he took by removing the contentious fuel subsidy.
He said his administration is in to develop the State and make the lives of the people better.
The Governor said his administration is ready to work to change the lives of the people for the better, adding that in just four months in office, he and his team have changed the narrative of Edo State.
He said: “I welcome you all our Chairmen who have come to join us, and I praise you for the courage and bravery to leave your party to join the APC. It takes a grounded politician to take this step you have taken today.
“Let me draw your minds back to where we are coming from as an administration. We practically met that Edo was not working when we came into office. What we met in Edo were insecurity, killings, looting Edo treasury using consultants to deceive Edo people and other backward policies implemented by the Obaseki led administration, but we came and changed the narrative.”
The Governor used the occasion to thank a former governor of Edo State and Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; the State chairman of APC, Jarret Tenebe and all members of the APC for their continued support and sacrifices.
He also thanked the councillors who spoke for their various communities through the impeachment exercises in the councils and subsequent election of these new chairmen across the 17 local government areas of Edo State.
“2027 is a reality in Edo State as President Bola Amed Tinubu will continue in office. I charge the 17 of you today that the campaign for the election of President Bola Tinubu has started here today. Go back to your various local governments and erect his bill boards to draw home the message of re-electing President Tinubu.
“There is no vacancy in 2027 in Abuja. Those forming a political party now can’t rule us. They ruled their States and the people suffered from kidnapping, but since they left offices, their States are now free. Such people can’t rule Nigeria,” he declared.
Governor Okpebholo assured the President that Edo is right behind him, predicting a landslide victory in the election as the APC will continue to lead the country.
He said he and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa are both committed to the development of Edo State, and his administration has come to rescue the State.
The Governor expressed optimism that leaders of the opposition parties in the State will join the APC fold following his infrastructural development strides in the State.
The party secretary who received the decampees on behalf of the APC, Lawrence Okah thanked the new members, urging them to unite with other members of the party as the administration of Governor Okpebholo has come to rescue the State from retrogression.
“The desire of the governor is to unite the State and ensure the people enjoy the dividends of democracy through his developmental strides,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the Chairmen, the ALGON chairman and chairman of Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, Hon. Kelvin Iyere thanked the Governor and all APC party faithfuls for accepting them into the fold of the APC.
He noted that they decided to decamp from PDP because of the crisis in their party and their love for the development that Governor Okpebholo has brought to Edo State.
Dignitaries at the event included the Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Gani Adams, Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, Members of the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), serving commissioners, other top government officials and APC party faithful among others.
As part of efforts to get a firm grip on governance, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo plans to probe the sinking of $10 million in the state-owned newspaper, The Nigerian Observer by the immediate-past governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki.
This was revealed in a statement in Benin City on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Fred Itua.
According to Itua, his principal made the disclosure when he led top officials of his administration on an unscheduled visit to the premises of the Observer titles to inspect facilities on ground.
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The Governor and his entourage were shocked as they could not gain access to the buildings where all the machines purportedly bought by the previous administration were kept.
Obaseki’s Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie as well as the Publicity Secretary, Edo PDP Caretaker Committee and former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare were the foot soldiers used by Obaseki on the project.
The once vibrant newspaper organization was closed by Obaseki for the purpose of revamping it and ensuring it competes favourably with other national dailies but instead of delivering on his administration’s promise to Edo people, the media house has been worse off.
Gov Okpebholo, who was not happy as he could not gain access to the facilities, promised to revisit the premises again to inspect the buildings and see for himself the machines Obaseki claimed to have bought with tax payers money.
On the development, the governor said: “I was in the premises of The Observer Newspaper company to see for myself the money claimed to have been spent by the former governor, Godwin Obaseki on revamping the State owned media outfit.
“The former governor claimed to have used $10 million to revamp the newspaper house just before election. Everywhere was locked because there was nothing inside, I could not even see a cleaner in the premises as those we met on the ground were not those working there.
“I need to be there again myself, and I need to inspect the buildings housing the equipment bought by the previous administration led by Godwin Obaseki. I will check inside the buildings myself to be sure that the machines are there. I can’t really say for now if there are machines there because I couldn’t go inside. If the place was working, people would have been there, especially considering the resources spent there.
“Edo people need to ask what happened to their money spent in revamping The Observer Newspaper. I am here as their governor to provide them with the answers. Hence, the visit to the organization became necessary.”
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February 19, 2025 at 12:51 am
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